Manufacturing Industries

Classification of Manufacturing Industry

Manufacturing: Production of goods in large quantities after processing the raw materials into more valuable products is called manufacturing.

Importance of Manufacturing

Manufacturing industries help in modernizing agriculture; which forms the backbone of our economy. Apart from this, manufacturing industries also reduce the heavy dependence of people on agricultural income. This becomes possible because of creation of new jobs in secondary and tertiary sectors.

Industrial development helps in eradication of unemployment and poverty.

Export of manufactured goods expands trade and commerce and brings in much needed foreign exchange.

A country with high level of manufacturing activities becomes prosperous.

Contribution of Industry to National Economy

The share of manufacturing sector in the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) has been stagnant at 17% over the last two decades. The total contribution of industry to the GDP is 27% out of which 10% comes from mining, quarrying, electricity and gas.

The growth of the manufacturing sector had been 7% in the last decade. Since 2003, the growth rate has been 9 to 10% per annum. The desired growth rate over the next decade is 12%.

The National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council (NMCC) has been set with the objectives of improving productivity through proper policy interventions by the government and renewed efforts by the industry.

Industrial Location

Some of the factors which affect the industrial location are as follows:

Availability of raw materials

Availability of labour

Availability of capital

Availability of power

Availability of market

Infrastructure

Sometimes, industries are located in or near cities. Cities provide markets and also provide services like banking, insurance, transport, labour, consultants, etc. Many industries tend to come together to make use of the advantages of an urban centre. Such centre is then called as agglomeration economy.

In the pre-independence period, most of the manufacturing units were located in places which were near the ports, e.g. Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, etc. As a result, these belts developed as industrial urban centres surrounded by huge agricultural rural hinterland.

On the basis of capital investment:

Small Scale Industry: If the invested capital is upto Rs. one crore, then the industry is called a small scale industry.

Large Scale Industry: If the invested capital is more than Rs. one crore, then the industry is called a large scale industry.

On the basis of ownership:

Public Sector: These industries are owned and operated by government agencies, e.g. SAIL, BHEL, ONGC, etc.

Private Sector: These industries are owned and operated by individuals or a group of individuals, e.g. TISCO, Reliance, Mahindra, etc.

Joint Sector: These industries are jointly owned by the government and individuals or a group of individuals, e.g. Oil India Limited.

Cooperative Sector: These industries are owned and operated by the producers or suppliers of raw materials, workers or both. The resources are pooled by each stakeholder and profits or losses are shared proportionately. AMUL which is milk cooperative is a good example. The sugar industry in Maharashtra is another example.